My Take on Trump’s America

Romeo Lacandola

It’s 2:45am EST on November 9th, 2016. I am sitting alone at home and in tears, because Donald Trump is our next president.

Now if you know anything about me, it’s that politically I’ve always been withdrawn. I was raised in a conservative Texas town where I never really fit in. That place was filled with love from family and friends, but I never felt comfortable enough to question and cause conflict. Politics was the game that caused friends to flip tables, and I was scared to invite in negativity.

It wasn’t until I moved that I realized I thought differently. No more did I have to feel ashamed in seeking out my opinions. Admittedly I had always avoided forming a political point of view. This past year, I found sweet freedom in getting to question and decipher exactly where I stand in this crazy world.

I didn’t care about proving others wrong or fighting against the ones I loved. But I finally started putting value on things that I found most important.

Integrity. Compassion. Acceptance. Love.

They all seem so elementary written out like that. So how as an American people did we pick someone who is rooted in all the things that make my skin crawl? Even before I knew where I stood politically, I always supported all races, religions, genders and sexuality. To me, letting others be themselves never made me a hero, it made me a decent human being.

There are always differing viewpoints and good on both sides of a decision. Like I said, I’m not out to prove anyone wrong. But I am here to make a stance on my personal belief, and that is that we ALL deserve to be what makes America great. Trump has never been capable of doing that for us.

You may not have voted in support of that man’s ethics (or lack there of), but your vote gives validation to the hurt and discrimination millions of people deal with every day. It justifies the horror we have seen through progressive movements for generations. Further, it goes against the freedom this country was founded on.

I express my opinions because I value them, not because I devalue yours. I’m grateful to finally have the courage to speak up, and tell you exactly what I think Trump’s America should be.

He is one man. I turn away from Trump and look to the God that I know has a plan. I will pray and mourn tonight, but will wake with optimism tomorrow because this country does not and will never belong to just one. We as a people are the agents of change and progression, no matter who sits in a big white house twiddling their thumbs.

Our America was founded on freedom and representation. The definition of who has access to that MUST expand with it’s people, whether you support them on a personal level or not. We all have the same basic rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

So I encourage you (no matter how you voted) to take on the challenge of really making America great again. We don’t need to build walls, we need to tear them down. xo

 

 

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